He found a rib bone. He tossed it in the air as he walked, catching it over and over again, letting the rhythm of this absent toying keep his mind distracted. The bone still had scraps of dried, leathery meat clinging to it, courtesy of the sun it had been left to bake in, whereas a darker, wetter environment would have lead to the meat rotting off. It smelled of the coyotes that had last scavenged from it, and of the birds who had also taken their share. Once, it had belonged to a moose. Now, for the next hour or so, it belonged to Luke.
This bone was the sort of thing he would have cached had he a den to store it in. He would chew this bone until nothing was left, and then find himself another; probably an antler, his preferred chew. But, since he was still a loner, he settled down now for one good session, before he would leave it for the next creature to find. On top of a flat rock he laid, the bone grasped between his paws. In the quiet of the evening, as the sun began to set, the sound of teeth grinding and cracking bone could be heard.
Kapvik took in the Wilds as they were: rampant with creatures both large and small and bounteous with vegetation. Vegetation that he could make use of at a later date. Traipsing from one territory to the next, Kapvik hoarded anything that may be of value to him or the Spine. A herbivore's favorite lichen, medicinal plants, a perfectly intact crow's skull...Just menial and meaningful objects that had no purpose or several. Even Kapvik could fall prey to fancy every now and then.
INDENTThis excursion was not planned beforehand but his superiors let him have at it anyway. Comforting to know he could discover more while still living under the Spine's rule, able to return once he has gathered enough of a little bit of everything he could pluck, relocate, and store. He worried for his position in the pack, leery of the consequences of his momentary venture but just as quickly dismissed it. If one of the newer joiners surpassed him in rank, Kapvik would go about his way here only to return with unbridled fury. Although his position was hardly anything to write home about.
INDENTKapvik's haunt was in or around Neverwinter Forest. Mainly because his cache was there, mainly because it felt like a second residence. Ironically the swarthiness of the woodland was the main reason he even considered setting up there in the first place. Better yet, it was close to home. So if something came up in the Spine, Kapvik would be there be there with a quickness. Despite his helter-skelter passage into their ranks, Tartok was still very much his home and he would defend those who dwell within every bit as fiercely at hunger gnaws at the unsettled.
INDENTExcept for this guy. Whoever he is, Kapvik spied on him from a more surreptitious area. Not that there were a lot of places to hide, mind you. Maybe Moonspear offered plenty of places to hide, but here, Kapvik was almost as exposed as this slaphappy wolf was. Growing irate at the loner's delectation, Kapvik swiftly rose to stand, brush and bramble clinging to his tousled pelt. Kicking off his hind legs, he charged in Luke's direction with a roaring snarl, eyes fixed on the bone clasped within his paws. He had no intention of harming the lad, but he would use force if he did not extract himself from the bone. Approaching the stony platform upon which Luke laid, Kapvik would go at him with a renewed charge if he has not yet moved.
INDENTThe pale male would see him as nothing more than a brutish hoodlum, little more than a famished, bellicose rogue. Good. Let him think that.
He focused on the bone, its texture, the renewed smell as saliva moistened the dried flesh. He focused on the sound of his teeth at work, and paused to look upon the indents and grooved they left. In this focus was therapy. His mind was quiet and thought of nothing else but the object between his paws. Even if the other wolf had not taken such care in concealing himself, Luke would not have been quick to notice him.
It was the drum of feet and the thunder of a snarl that caused his head to snap up. His chewing trance broken, replaced by readiness as he gathered his feet beneath him, muscles tensed and fur bristled. His tail was stiff behind him. He noted the male's fierce stare - locked not on to him, but to the bone at his paws. His own eyes, iced steel, were fixed on the aggressor's face, and did not move from him even as a blue-padded paw swept the bone off the rock, down to the one who seemed so desperate for it.
The loner rose, fluffing up like a porcupine. Kapvik viewed this as an affront more than anything. Lips peeled back, ready to unleash his wrath upon this insolent sh –
INDENTThe wolf swiped at his slobbery bone, discarding it into the shrubs below. This consoled the Epsilon enough to not outright attack him, rushing to claim the bone as his. With his newfound possession gripped between his jaws, all unfriendliness melted away. Kapvik walked to put a few feet between him and the rattled wolf...only to spin around to face Luke in a play-bow, woofing at him. Luke had been fooled; the aggression was nothing more than a ruse. It was a cruel ploy into getting the upper hand, true, but he was in no mood to pick on rogues. Kapvik lazily chewed on the bone, wetting it with his own saliva. Oo. Tasty.
The bone was not worth the confrontation that the other male threatened and so the white wolf had parted with it easily. Fortunately, it seemed the aggression had been a charade, a prank, and he had fallen for it. He watched intently as the darker wolf claimed the bone and dropped into a play bow with an inviting woof. Luke's tail started to wag. He held no ill feelings about the savage nature of the ruse and was more than happy with the change in direction the encounter was taking.
He leaped down from the rock, slipping into his own play bow so quickly it was as though he had landed in the position. He grinned devilishly and darted forward, lifting a paw in the air and slapping it onto the ground with a silly growl. Then he made a grab for the bone, the end opposite the one the other male chewed. If he could get his teeth on it, he was prepared for a good ol fashioned session of tug-o-war.
The other reacted in kind, merrily accommodating to Kapvik's proposal. Whoever the alabaster wolf was, he did not seem terribly hung up on Kapvik's underhanded tactics, eagerly jumping off of the stone platform only to land in a bow. The earthen toned Epsilon faked agitation at the others motions; growling clamorously, appendage rising over haunches, fur spiking. The whole nine yards. Luke was not deterred in the slightest, enlivened by Kapvik's mendacious aggression. Yes. Good.
INDENTThe other wolf went straight for him, pawing at the earth with childish glee. Kapvik's response? More posturing and flexing, rumble rising in pitch. The wolverine did not move from his spot, decorating the bone just as Luke had: with dents, dings, and a copious amount of spit. The littler wolf made to grab a hold of the other end of the bone. Kapvik reacted with a grating, ephemeral snarl. The sound traveled far. Birds nearby took to the sky and lesser animals snuggled deeper into their respective dens. It was a sound that postulated respect and fright. To Luke, is was more of a come hither than a warning to back off.
INDENTBlue. The wolf's damned nose was blue. What in the world? Kapvik did not release the bone but he did grow quiet, fire-stone eyes locked on to Luke's colorful olfactory organ. He wondered why the wolf's nose was blue yet the need for recreation was too strong to ignore or stifle. Growls resuming, he jerked his head to dislodge the bone from Luke's mouth. If successful, he would then turn and frolic away, shaking his tail in such a way that invited Luke to give chase. If unsuccessful, he would try again.
Luke grasped the end of the bone, shoving his forelegs out in front of him so he could give a few good yanks punctuated by low, rumbly growls. The other was not about to part so freely with their second-hand prize, and though it had been Luke's first, he was not possessive nor really determined to get it back. His hold was firm but not jaw-busting, and so when the larger male jerked his head to dislodge it, he was successful and frolicked away with the bone, shaking his tail at the white wolf.
Luke was always eager for a chase and happily pursued, barking as he sprinted after the dark wolf. He nipped lightly at a flank as he drew near, transferring his playing teeth to a shoulder but not yet making a move for the bone. For now, he was content to chase, though he feigned a lunge at the bone, seeking to land another nip to the other's cheek or muzzle.
Triumphant, the Epsilon waltzed away with an erect tail waving this way and that. The blue-nosed canid was hot on his heels, audaciously nipping at his flank. Kapvik responded with a blaring growl but little else. No, it would have been too soon for what he had in mind. The loner continued to badger him though, each nip and tug emphasized by growls of growing vexation. Growing tired of toying with Kapvik's shoulder, the loner feigned a grab for his prize. Kapvik thought that he was definitely going to grab a hold of it so he slammed his weight against the other wolf. Not enough to injure or anything like that, but enough to make him reconsider drawing near again.
INDENTSomething akin to laughter came from the Epsilon.
Just as his teeth clipped a cheek he was slammed sideways. As he had not been anticipating the move and was substantially lighter than his strapping playmate, the white wolf stumbled and before hitting the ground cheek and shoulder first. But he was swift and agile, and spared no time in collecting himself and resuming the chase with a renewed growl, one louder and now more determined even as a grin split his face.
He took off after the darker wolf, his focus not on the bone but on the other's back. He did not hesitate, there was nothing held back in the speed of his paws as he closed the distance, and once he neared enough he sprang. Like a mountain cat he sailed through the air, and if his aim and timing were true, and his target did not change course, he was set to pounce right on top of him. Perhaps he could wrestle him to the ground, or hang on for a ride, however brief. Either would entertain the Bluenose immensely.
Kapvik flinched at having his face touched. It was not often another touched him there, what with the threat of teeth and ferine petulance. The wolf's pinch on his cheek did not last as he sent Luke into orbit away. Far enough away to escape the wolf's teasing bites. Eat my dust.
INDENTSer Bluenose was up to something. Even with the pallid wolf's schemes, Kapvik continued trotting along, thinking there was not a damned thing the smaller wolf could do to him. Deep down he knew that this bluster was going to bite him in the rear, and yet the gaiety did not stop. Not even for a second.
INDENTThen the wolf was on his back, grappling and gripping as best he could. Kapvik grunted beneath Luke's added weight, wincing as his joints ached beneath the impact. His companion was not exactly large nor he was not tiny either; weighing comfortably between fed and underfed. Giant though Kapvik was, he could not handle all that Luke was. Plopping down in resignation, Kapvik tried to roll over his playmate in an attempt to effectively crush him and get back up on his feet. At least that's what the Epsilon had in mind...His playfellow was nimble in both mind and feet. Maybe he could think of something before being crushed to death.
He landed squarely on the broad, muscular back of the darker wolf. He could not help himself: "WHEEEEE!" he exclaimed with childish glee as he rode atop the bronco for a few paces. He was content to remain up here much longer, but his steed had other ideas and suddenly dropped and rolled to one side. Luke tried to scramble away, but his back half did not escape in time and became pinned beneath the other's body.
With enough quick twisting and wrenching, the blue-nosed wolf could have freed himself and been on his feet. But he was not concerned with his capture; he was thoroughly engaged in this game and reacted by playfully going for an ear.
This post ends on an ominous note but I swear he's not gonna do anything. The nutter on his back exclaimed, patently excited to ride atop him like some enraged bull. His blue-nosed companion made an attempt to escape but Kapvik had a good portion trapped beneath his gargantuan body. Ha haa! It was, perhaps, the closest he was going to get to “winning” this contest of one upmanship. Oh, but this rascally entity was not yet done, squirming to moving to clasp onto one of his highly sensitive ears. Pain exploded in the thin skin there, causing Kapvik to whirl around and try to grasp the others muzzle, coming to shoot up on all fours as well. In all likelihood, Luke had not meant to hurt him. Knowing this did not stop the Epsilon from acting on his impulses. His playmate got a bit too rough and now he was going to pay for it.
LOL no worries. I would not hold it against you if Tat decided to be mean :P
He was successful, his teeth clamped on a soft black ear and he made to gently gnaw and tug, but before he could engage the dark wolf whirled on him. Instinctively he pulled back as the other male came for him, but again he was taken by surprise and so was not quick enough to react. He whined, in surprise and discomfort, as open jaws closed on his muzzle. He was fastened to the ground, held in place by uncertainty, as the larger wolf stood over him. His tail swept across the ground in slow strokes, and his ears folded back on his skull. He did not move, waiting with baited breath. He wanted to believe this to be another ruse, another show of aggressive dominance, but he could not be sure.
<3 <3
Precariousness pinned the wolf in place, audits falling back and tail wagging beneath the Epsilon. Did he think this, too, was a farce? Annoyed by Luke's perceptiveness,
Kapvik bit down harder with an infuriated growl. Not enough to draw blood but enough to inflict pain. Luke would know of his erroneous roughhousing. This? This might not be the appropriate way to show him. This was too intense in a short span of time.
INDENTRelinquishing his hold on Ser Bluenose's muzzle,
Kapvik began running his tongue over the indentations left behind by his fangs. Smoothing out the fur there, he stopped, eyes fastening onto Luke's quicksilver orbs.
I apologize for snapping, but you hurt me. The words were there in his substantive stare, not wanting to break the leaden silence that weighed on them now. Sometimes words were not necessary. They were wolves, after all. They spoke more through movement and body language than through spoken verse.
INDENTThe rib bone lay off to the side, forgotten.
<3!
Luke was a conversationalist. He fully embraced the spoken language and lived a far less feral life than others, but his instincts had not been lost (they were not as sharp, perhaps) and he understood the message he had been sent by the darker wolf's teeth. He winced as other wolf bit down harder, but in the next moment the pressure was lifted and a tongue was soothing his muzzle. He had not meant to cause pain, but he had. His playmate's ears were apparently more sensitive than he had anticipated.
Their gazes met. Luke's tail continued its sweeping motion, eager to resume their fun. He rolled to his side, pawing at the air in front of the other's muzzle, feigning a playful swat without connecting. He rumbled softly, imploringly.
No fault, no foul. Luke's nips had been an accident. One Kapvik was eager to forgive. His playmate was forgiven with resuming their tussle. Kapvik decided he liked being on top and made no move to let Luke up. His outstretched paws were met with slimy licks meant to make the snowy wolf shudder, but the wolverine might have failed in grossing out his companion. They were not a species to be grossed out, actually. Instead, Kapvik lurched off of Luke only to entice him with another play bow, this time with an earsplitting growl. I demand you play with me. Right now.
INDENTAnd play they did. Perhaps not as long as Luke may have wanted. Kapvik decided enough was enough after forty-five minutes. Their session had run its course by then. Kapvik suddenly withdrew from his momentaneous associate, signaling it was time for him to take his leave. Sorry, but I can't play all day. Nipping roughly at the loner to ward him off, the marked wolf left in a brisk trot. No words were exchanged between them, the wolverine leaving Ser Bluenose to chew on his bone with renewed enthusiasm.